Neurobiology and Flow

Complex activities require the seamless cooperation of brain regions lying far apart from each other. In states of mental high performance, this functions particularly smoothly. Listed below are the brain areas which cooperate while listening to music in order of activation:

Neurobiologie und Flow - Die Hirnaktivität beim Hören von Musik (1)

Brain activation while listening to music

The stimulus from the auditory nerve is conducted to the brain stem (1): sensory-motor connection between brain and body, control of heart beat, body temperature, breathing, etc.

Transfer to the limbic system (2), centrally located in the middle of the brain:
processing of emotions, eliciting physical responses such as chills, crying, stomach-ache. This explains why music gets right under the skin!

Neurobiologie und Flow - Die Hirnaktivität beim Hören von Musik (2)Transfer to the primary auditory cortex (3), located on the surface of the left and right side of the brain: the control center of the auditory system.

Transfer to the following areas:
Secondary auditory areas (4): in the left side of the brain we “understand” rhythm, in the right side timbre and pitch.
Prefrontal brain (5): our knowledge about music, our understanding of music
Orbitofrontal cortex (6): our personal taste in music; the left OFC is activated if we like the music, the right OFC if we don’t.

Neurobiologie und Flow - Eigene EEG-Studie zur Neurobiologie von Flow-Zuständen bei Musikern

EEG-study on the neurobiology of flow-states in musicians

In an explorative study, the brain waves of music students at the University of the Arts Bremen, Germany and the Novosibirsk State Conservatory, Russia were measured while practising in flow.

University of the Arts Bremen and Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics of The Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Novosibirsk
Dr. Olga Bazanova, Andreas Burzik, M.Ps., May/August 2005

Neurobiologie und Flow - Eigene EEG-Studie zur Neurobiologie von Flow-Zuständen bei Musikern - Ergebnis 1: Starke Alpha-Aktivität und hohe Kohärenz

Results-1: a musician in deep flow

Strong alpha activity

…means acting in a state of relaxed wakefulness, heightened ability to perform, enhanced learning ability, intense concentration and immersion in a task: just the right blend of detachment, clarity, engagement and power.

High coherence

…is a measure of how well far-lying brain regions cooperate with each other. In flow, all brain regions communicate and cooperate optimally. The brain operates in sync; figuratively speaking, it becomes a “superconductor”. Superconductivity of the brain results in permeability for creative ideas, openness for spontaneous problem solving. Highly coherent states of mind are associated with positive emotions and the release of endorphins (naturally-produced opiates) – the “eureka” feeling or feeling of enlightenment.

Neurobiologie und Flow - Eigene EEG-Studie zur Neurobiologie von Flow-Zuständen bei Musikern - Ergebnis 2: Ein Gehirn im gestressten Alltagsmodus

Results-2: practising without flow

In juxtaposition: a brain in stressed-out, everyday mode

Low alpha activity, no coherence. The brain doesn’t operate in sync. At each electrode there is different electrical activity, the respective brain regions do not cooperate optimally, each brain area “does what it wants”. Poorly coordinated brain activity results in reduced effectiveness in thinking and acting, restricted learning ability and impaired performance.

Neurobiologie und Flow - Eigene EEG-Studie zur Neurobiologie von Flow-Zuständen bei Golfern

Further studies on states of mental high performance in athletes and musicians: an EEG-study on golfers

Synchronisation of brain hemispheres

Golfers in states of heightened performance show a synchronised activity in both hemispheres. The particular abilities of both hemispheres work perfectly together in the accomplishment of complex tasks.

Economization of brain activity

Only the regions fire which are necessary for the task at hand, all other areas are largely deactivated. This explains the ease, elegance and efficiency of action in flow.

 

Source: www.debbiecrews.com

Neurobiologie und Flow - Flow bei Jazzmusikern

Flow in jazz musicians

Creativity and self-expression

During improvisation, the brain of jazz pianists shows a large deactivation of the cognitive control functions of the prefrontal brain (blue), and a simultaneously heightened activation of all sensory areas and those areas which process genuine self-expression (red).This results in enhanced permeability for creative ideas and their immediate realization.

In contrast, the brain activation during structured scale practising is reciprocal: the cognitive control functions of the prefrontal brain are activated; the activity of the sensory areas and the areas processing self-expression is diminished.

 

Source: Charles Limb, Allen Braun 2008